MEMBERS LOUANN VAN DERWIELE CHAIRPERSON REV. MICHAEL MURRAY VICE-CHAIRPERSON DULCE M. FULLER SECRETARY JAMES A. FINK JOHN W. INHULSEN JONATHAN E. LAUDERBACH BARBARA WILLIAMS FORNEY KAREN D. O'DONOGHUE MICHAEL B. RIZIK, JR.
STATE OF MICHIGAN ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE BOARD
211 WEST FORT STREET, SUITE 1410 DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226-3236 PHONE: 313·963-5553 I FAX: 313·963·5571
MARK A. ARMITAGE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WENDY A. NEELEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR
SHERRY L. MIFSUD OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
ALLYSON M. PLOURDE CASE MANAGER
OWEN R. MONTGOMERY CASE MANAGER
JULIE M. LOISELLE RECEPTIONISTISECRETARY
FINAL NOTICE OF REPRIMAND Case No. 14-116-GA Notice Issued: October 19,2016 Joseph Edward Ernst, P 69274, Holt, Michigan, by the Attorney Discipline Board, affirming Ingham County Hearing Panel #3's order of reprimand.
Reprimand Effective October 1, 2015 Respondent appeared at the hearing and filed an answer to the formal complaint. The hearing panel found that respondent committed acts of professional misconduct while representing a criminal defendant by telling his client that he had hired an investigator, and that the investigator had performed services in furtherance of his case. Respondent admitted that he knew the statement to be false at the time he made it. Accordingly, the hearing panel found that respondent's false statement to his client violated MRPC 8.4(a) and (b) and MCR 9.104(2)-(4)
The hearing panel ordered that respondent be reprimanded. The Grievance Administrator filed a petition for review, seeking an increase in discipline. Upon review, the Board issued its order and opinion affirming the hearing panel's order of reprimand on September 19, 2016. Total costs were assessed in the amount of $1,909.30.
Dated: October 19,2016